Timepiece regulator



4, 1964 H. E. DICKERMAN TIMEPIECE REGULATOR Filed Oct. 4, 1962 INVENTOR. HUBERT E. DICKERMAN BY ma.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,129,097 Patented Feb. 4, 1 964 3,l2tl,tl"7

Hubert E. Dieircrman, 276 Farmington Road, Longmeadow, l t lassa Filed Get 4-, i962, No. 228,280 11 (Claims. (Cl. Ss -M2} The invention comprehends improvements in a mechanism for regulating the running speed of a horological instrument which envisions the separation of a spring means constituting a fine incremental adjustment component and a ring means constituting a rough adjustment component of the regulating mechanism. The latter means frictionally engages the balance cock or cap jewel mounting, in manner wherefor the conventional dependence thereupon as a pivotal point, around which the curb or regulator pin supporting means is rotatively adjusted during the line incremental regulation, is desirably avoided.

Heretofore, in known prior art devices, it has been customary, in means for improving the isochronous rate, to clamp the hairspring during operational use, and upon adjustment, to unclamp same, to move the regulator to the desired new position, and then to reclamp the hzirspring. By this very clamping, the creeping of the regulating mechanism, inherent therein when and so long as same is adjusted relative to a balance jewel or cap jewel mounting which it circumscribes, has meant the inevitable carrying of the hairspring therewith. Residual Stresses and clamping strains, set up in the regulating mechanism, foretell subsequent movements upon their release and movements of the clamped hairspring accordingly.

it has been common to locate the curb or regulator pins on a split ring frictionally engaged with and pivota'lly movable about a balance cock or cap jewel mounting, but horological instruments employing such concept have sulfered from the salient disadvantage presented by this aforeacknowledged inherent tendency of said split ring to give rise to these cramping strains and/or residual stresses developed between the motivating means for rotating the regulating device, during adjustment thereof, and the friction at or around the center or pivot means, resulting in this objectionable creep as said strains and/ or stresses release themselves and assume new and more normal positions of rest.

With a full cognizance of the problem and the attendant difficulties thus presented, I herein teach a fundamental basic concept of a one-piece regulator mechanism which envisions a spring means unitary with, yet novel iy separated from, a split ring means, which spring means supports the regulator pins and is provided with a bearing surface adapted to ride upon a point of contact upon a polished peripheral edge portion of the ring means, to the end that, while the split ring means frictionally engages a balance cock as a pivot point for major or large adjustments, dependence upon said split ring means and its pivotal relationship during the minor or line or final trimming adjustments is avoided.

By what I define as a separation of the close fitting ring means circumscribing the pivot point and the spring means supporting the regulating pins per se, same being connected to each other by a secondary pivotal point or fulcrum, the problems of residual strains and stresses are minimized.

Closely adjacent the aforementioned polished surface, I provide the screw means for motivating the spring means and balanced by the spring means urging it against a point of contact with the screw means and a point of contact with the polished surface, both points of contact being solid and unyielding.

An ample range of regulation is provided. Rough adjustments are first attained by rotating the entirety of the regulator mechanism around its primary pivotal point (the cap jewel mounting), and when a reasonable degree of closeness of regulation has been achieved thereby, a trimming or final touching up adjustment is attained by the further incremental movement of the screw member of a fine adjustment means against a spring loaded member supporting the regulating pins which rides on a curved surface of the ring so as to cause the regulating pins to be moved in an arc conforming to the curvature of the hairspring which they serve.

The slightest adjustment of the screw member serves to provide a corresponding exactitude in time regulation.

Some slight creep after rough regulation is bound to appear, but after a reasonable settling period, the line screw regulation can be made without fear of additional creep therefollowing.

It is, accordingly, a primary object hereof to provide a regulator mechanism which will allow more exact and positive adjustments to be made and to be maintained in the timing of a horological instrument than has been heretofore possible, such mechanism being a compact assemblage so as to be used with timepieces of any of the great multiplicity of sizes and shapes and designs, and further being such as to be readily understood by personnel likely to be most concerned with its practicality, including watch repairmen who will be able easily to sense its usefulness and to adapt it readily to instruments of their repair.

The heretofore known delayed creep which has affected mean time rate is herewith entirely eliminated by the line adjustment regulating means which it allows:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a regulating mechanism incorporating the novel features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the mechanism; and

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the mechanism, as seen from the right of FIG. 1.

In the interests of simplification of disclosure, the usual related instrumentalities of a horological device are not disclosed, but it will be understood that the regulating mechanism will be disposed in frictional engagement with a balance cook or cap jewel mounting upon a balance bridge, with the regulating or curb pins being disposed on opposite sides of the outermost convolution of the spiral balance hairspring, in conventional manner. A fragment of said balance hairspring is shown in phantom in FIG. 1 where it is designated by s.

The regulating mechanism will be readily accessible for manual rotation about the balance cock or cap jewel mounting so as to effectuate changes in the effective length of the balance hairspring and thus changes in the instrument timing.

The balance hairsprin-g will be understood to be disposed beneath the balance bridge and to have its inner end fixed to the balance staff and its outer end fixed to the balance bridge, in I conventional manner.

The regulating mechanism comprises an annular regulator ring iii, split at 121, to provide a pair of legs connected substantially diametrically opposite the split by an outwardly extending arm 14 of increased thickness having its upper surface coplanar With the upper surface of ring 1 An arouate-ly configured spring arm 16 emanates from ring ill at a side thereof relatively adjacent arm 14 so as to be coplanar with ring ill and spaced therefrom so as to be concentric therewith and define a space 20 therebetween. The root or base 18 of spring arm 16 merges with ring it) at a point of jointure serving as a pivotal point which is disposed below an imaginary center line at extended through the regulating mechanism along a line intersecting the cur-b or regulator pins of the pair thereof, for purposes to appear,

The spring arm to is tapered inwardly and gradually from its outer end portion toward its point of jcinture with ring lil.

Such taper allows a localization of the springing force at the point of jointure.

At the outermost outer end portion of the spring as, an integral outwardly-extending curb pin carrying portion 22 of increased thickness is provided to allow a side edge 24 which may be brought into confrontation with a paralle side edge 2t? of arm 14.

A pair of spaced-apart curb or regulator pins 3% and 32 are fixed to ad depend from the lower planar surface of curb pin carrying portion 22 of spring arm lid in a plane transverse to the major axis thereof, wherefore the outermost convolution of the balance hair-spring s may be disposed in the plane of, and in the defined space between the regulator pins 36 and 32.

Curb-pin carrying portion 22 defines at its inboard end an arcuately configured lobe which extends beyond the inner side edge of the spring arm 16 so as to extend into the space 20 and to bear against and move relative to the polished outer periphery of ring lid.

A transversely extending adjustment screw 49 will be threadedly engaged in a suitable opening extending through the arm '14, with the shank of said screw having a free end portion 4 2 of bullet or prolate shape receivable in a longitudinally-extending centrallydocated, outwardlyopening, appropriately aligned V-shaped groove dd provided in the adjacent forward edge 24 of curb pin carrying portion 22.

The head of screw 44} will be slotted as at 46 for facilitatrotation thereof by a suitable tool in manner whereby minute changes in the relative spacing between arm 14 and curb pin carrying portion 22 may be eifeotuated.

As screw 4% is rotated relative to arm 14, the end portion 4-2 thereof is moved toward or away from curb pin carrying portion 22, thereby efiectuating fine incremental positioning of said curb pin carrying portion and its associated curb pins and 32; relative to hair-spring s.

As aforesaid, the regulating mechanism, in its entirety, will be manually rotated relative to the balance cock or cap jewel of the timepiece for effectuating rough adjustments in regulation.

Following this rough adjustment, incremental adjustments of a finer, so-called trimming, nature are obtained by rotation of screw 4%, whereby curb pin carrying portion 22 is caused to move relative to regulator ring ll) through the'force brought to bear by said screw in the V-shaped groove 44 of curb pin-carrying portion 22 with the lobe 28 thereof riding on the periphery of ring in.

This movement of curb pin-carrying portion 22 relative to regulator ring In will be resisted by the bowed spring arm 16 of the regulator, thus insuring that only fine adjustments of the regulator pins 34? and 32 relative to the hairspring s are elfeotuated.

During any settling out period therefollowing, the regulator mechanism will tend to creep relative to the cap jewel mounting.

In the final trimming adjustments, it will be observed that two moments of force are set up, one moment of force generated by the adjustment screw adjacent the curb pins and urging the curb pin carrying portion 22 moving upwardly relative to ring 10, or in the direction of arrow :1 in FIG. 1, and the other moment of force generated by the spring arm 16 adjacent its base 13 and travel ing through said spring arm urging the curb pin carrying portion 22 moving downwardly relative to ring 19), or in the direction of arrow 17.

It will also be observed that at no time during this trimming operation is dependence had on the ring lit) and the cap jewel as apivot point for efiectuating the final regulation. Rather, the curb pin carrying portion 22 is free to ride relative to ring ltl, being turnable about pivot point, it), the base of the spring arm 15, which supports it.

B this arrangement, the creep set up when the ring per se is used as the focal pivot point is eliminated.

As aforesaid, the annular spring arm 15 is tapered along its circumferential length so as to be narrower at its pivotal end 18 than at its free curb pin carrying end 22, with the taper localizing spring action at the narrow end As the screw th is rotated, a force is applied at the free end which in turn sets up stresses in the spring arm which will reach a maximum at said narrow pivotal end.

As aforesaid, the pivot point 18 is located below the center x so as to assume a position in excess of from a line extended through the centers of the curb pins.

Were the spring arm 16 to define an arc of 180 or less, these stresses woul tend to urge the spring arm away from arm But where the spring arm d 189, the stresses will decrease arm to snap around the ring minimum stress.

In the regulator shown in PEG. 1, the length of the spring arm 16 represents an arc of approximately 225, using the imaginary center x as a base line. While the spring arm length could be increased to have its fixed terminus immediately adjacent arm A to represent an arc of approximately 318, a spring arm lengt as shown has been found to produce the best balance of the forces involved.

While the regulator has been shown with thickened portions lid, and 212, it will be understood that these portions could be produced from stamped sheet stock by a bending under of the stock and a doubling of same upon itself so as to produce the requisite thickness to hold the respective adjustment screw and curb pins.

By the basic design hereof, a curb pin-carrying portion is moved along the outer periphery of the ring which frictionally engages the cap jewel mounting. The spring arm, conforming as it does to the curvature of the hairspring, presents a compact unit which enhances its usefulness for many watch designs and shapes.

Because of its novel one-piece construction, my regu lator can be produced inexpensively in various ways and is rugged and durable. ts design represents the utmost in simplicity wherefore the regulator can be easily understood by those skilled in the watchmaking art.

It will be understood that my invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a regulator mechanism for regulating the running speed of a time-keeping device including a hairspring for oscillation of a balance wheel relative to a balance cock, the combination of, a regulator ring frictionally engageable with and pivotable about the balance cock during major adjustments of relationships between said regulator ring and the balance cock, a flexible arcuate spring means unitary with and spaced from said regulator ring, regulator pins disposed on opposite faces of a coil of the hairspring and supported by said spring means, said spring means having a bearing surface in point contact with a peripheral portion of said regulator ring, and adjustment means supported by said regulator ring and bearable upon said spring means for etlectuating incrementally fine movements of said spring means relative to said regulator ring and in conformity with curvature of the hairspring for the final positioning of said regulator pins relative to the hairspring.

2. In a regulator mechanism for regulating the running speed of a time-keping device including a balance hairspring for oscillation of a balance wheel relative to a balance cock the combination of, a regulator ring frictionally engageable with and pivotable about the balance cock elines an arc in excess of s as to induce the spring 1 towards a position of during major adjustments of relationship between said regulator ring and the balance cock, a flexible arcuate spring means having an inner end connected to said regulator ring at a point of jointure and being spaced from and concentrically related to said regulator ring, regulator pins disposed on opposite faces of a coil of the hairspring and supported by said spring means, said spring means having a bearing surface in point contact with a peripheral portion of said regulator ring, and adjustment means supported by said regulator ring and bearable upon said spring means for effectuating incrementally fine movement of said spring means relative to said regulator ring and in conformity with the curvature of the hairspring for the final positioning of said regulator pins relative to the hairspring.

3. In the regulator mechanism as set forth in claim 1, with said spring means being of diminishing thickness from a free outer end thereof to the opposite end at said point of jointure with said regulator ring for a localization of spring action.

4. In a regulator mechanism for regulating the running speed of a time-keeping device including a hairspring for oscillation of a balance wheel relative to a balance cock and a pair of regulator pins, the combination of, a regulator ring mounted for rotation about the axis of the balance cock, a spring arm having one end integral with said regulator ring and having an opposite regulator pin supporting end in point contact with said regulator ring, and spring arm adjustment means supported by and movable in fine increments of movement relative to said regulator ring for effectuating movement of said spring means relative to said regulator ring in conformity with the curvature of the hairspring for the final positioning of said regulator pins relative to the hairspring.

5. In a regulator mechanism for regulating the running speed of a time-keeping device including a balance hairspring for oscillation of a balance wheel relative to a balance cock and a pair of regulating pins on opposite sides of a coil of the hairspring, the combination of, a regulator ring frictionally engageable with and pivotable about the balance cock, a flexible spring means having an inner juncture end unitary with said regulator ring and an outer regulator pin supporting end having a bearing surface in point contact with the periphery of said regulator ring, and adjustment means supported by said regulator n'ng closely adjacent the point contact of said spring means and regulator ring, said spring means being bearable upon said adjustment means for elfeotuating incrementally fine movement of said spring means for the final positioning of said regulator pins relative to the hairspring as said spring means is rotated concentrically with the curvature of the hairspring and free of pivotal dependence upon said regulator ring.

6. In a regulator for regulating the running speed of an horological instrument which includes a hairspring for oscillation of a balance wheel the combination of, an annular split regulator ring, a spring arm concentrically related to said regulator ring and having one end fixed to said regulator ring and an opposite free end adapted to ride on the outer periphery of said regulator ring, the free end of said spring arm carrying regulating pins disposed in the plane of and on opposite faces of a convolution of the hairspring, and screw means threadedly adjustable relative to said regulator ring and having an operative end embraceable against the free end of said spring arm for efiectuating movement of the latter in fine increments of adjustment relative to said regulator ring to vary the position of said regulating pins relative to the hairspring, the free end of said spring arm having an alignment-keeping groove for accommodation of the operative end of said screw means.

7. In a regulator mechanism for regulating the running speed of a timekeeping device which includes a hairspring for oscillation of a balance wheel, the improvement constituting, a split regulator ring having a polished outer periphery, a tapered spring arm separated from said split regulator ring by a jointure of the latter and the former at a fulcrum, said spring arm having an opposite free end portion adapted to bear against the polished outer periphery of said split regulator ring, a pair of regulating pins depending from the free end portion of said spring arm and disposed on opposite faces of a coil of the hairspring, and an adjustment screw carried by said split regulator ring and adapted to engage the free end of said spring arm whereby the latter may be moved in fine increments of adjustment relative to said split regulator ring to vary the position of said regulating pins relative to the coil spring.

8. In the regulator mechanism as set forth in claim 7 wherein the free end portion of said spring arm includes a bearing lobe adapted to ride on the polished periphery of said split regulator ring.

9. A regulator comprising, an annular rotative split regulator ring, a resilient spring arm of diminishing thickness extending from and concentrically related to said regulator ring, said spring arm having a free curb-pincarrying end portion bearing on said split regulator ring, a screw actuator bearing against said spring arm adjacent said free curb-pin-carrying end portion with the inherent resilience of said spring arm maintaining said curb-pincarrying end portion in contact With said screw actuator and with said split-ring portion.

10. In the regulator as set forth in claim 9 wherein the point of jointure of said spring arm with said split-ring portion is in excess of from a line extending longitudinally through the curb pins.

ll. A regulator mounted to rotate about the axis of the balance of a timepiece including, a split-regulator ring, a flexible tapered arm integral with but separated from and concentrically related to said regulator ring, a screw actuator bearing against the free end of said arm setting up a first moment of force urging the free end of said arm to move in a certain direction relative to said split ring portion, the first moment of force being resisted by a second moment of force generated at the point of jointure of said flexible arm and said split-ring portion urging the freeend portion to move in a direction opposite to said certain direction wherefore said free-end portion is main-- tained in constant engagement with said screw actuator and with said split-ring portion.

No references cited. 

1. IN A REGULATOR MECHANISM FOR REGULATING THE RUNNING SPEED OF A TIME-KEEPING DEVICE INCLUDING A HAIRSPRING FOR OSCILLATION OF A BALANCE WHEEL RELATIVE TO A BALANCE COCK, THE COMBINATION OF, A REGULATOR RING FRICTIONALLY ENGAGEABLE WITH AND PIVOTABLE ABOUT THE BALANCE COCK DURING MAJOR ADJUSTMENTS OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SAID REGULATOR RING AND THE BALANCE COCK, A FLEXIBLE ARCUATE SPRING MEANS UNITARY WITH AND SPACED FROM SAID REGULATOR RING, REGULATOR PINS DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE FACES OF A COIL OF THE HAIRSPRING AND SUPPORTED BY SAID SPRING MEANS, SAID SPRING MEANS HAVING A BEARING SURFACE IN POINT CONTACT WITH A PERIPHERAL PORTION OF SAID REGULATOR RING, AND ADJUSTMENT MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID REGULATOR RING AND BEARABLE UPON SAID SPRING MEANS FOR EFFECTUATING INCREMENTALLY FINE 